The greatest cost driver in an electric car is the battery. In recent years, car manufacturers worldwide have been exploring ways to develop and produce batteries that are not only sustainable, but also cost-efficient and which have enough power for long ranges. In addition to prismatic and pouch cells, major manufacturers are increasingly relying on round cells with a diameter of 46 millimeters. SCHUNK has designed a new tool specifically for handling this type of cell: the RCG round cell gripper. It is freely scalable, so that individual battery cells can be handled, can be automatically arranged in rows, and precise and fast loading of entire battery clusters is possible in an uncomplicated and safe manner.
The RCG round cell grippers has a pneumatically controlled magnetic system for picking and placing battery cells magnetically. The permanent magnet inside the individual gripper, ensures secure gripping force maintenance during the complete process. Even in case of a possible energy loss during an emergency stop, the battery is held by the gripper. The high holding force of the magnets > 70 N is designed for any battery length and enables high acceleration rates of the robot in use. The RCG’s sensory workpiece and status detection also contribute to process reliability. They recognize whether a battery is present, but also enable piston stroke monitoring. In order to achieve maximum possible power density of the battery cells within the battery cluster and without interfering contours, the SCHUNK designers have adapted the RCG precisely to battery cells with 46 millimeters. SCHUNK offers the gripper in three versions: without centering, with 2-fold centering or with 4-fold centering for tolerance compensation when picking up the battery cells.
The system can be combined with other SCHUNK components for use in a production line: suitable sensors, compensation and cell spacing units, as well as linear direct axes enable precise, dynamic, and safe processes in series production of battery packs.
